The Cloisters at the One & Only Ocean Club, on Paradise Island, the Bahamas
It’s the ultimate destination wedding wish list: You want the Old World elegance of Europe, the sexiness of a tropical beach, and the convenience of a quick plane flight. If we offered Paradise Island, in the Bahamas, you might turn your nose up and run to the next destination wedding expert. After all, Paradise Island is home to Atlantis, a resort that’s not so much a palmy getaway as it is an exuberant theme park on the beach.
But not so fast. Let the lovers of water slides and casinos take the shuttle van to Atlantis; you and your groom will climb into a limousine and head further down the road to the One & Only Ocean Club. Though it’s the sister property to Atlantis, never have two siblings been less similar: the Ocean Club, a former private estate, is home to 12th-century cloisters imported from Europe, Versailles-inspired gardens, sumptuous guest rooms, and a restaurant overseen by none other than Jean-George Vongerichten, one of the world’s true culinary stars. Weddings here are some of the most elegant in the islands.
Lest you feel things may seem a little too refined, never fear; there are plenty of tropical playthings at hand—wind-surfers, tennis courts, snorkeling, golf. And when you want a wicked good rum punch, the bartenders definitely know what they’re doing.
